Mensuration device



July 23, 1941 H. sPlTZER MENSURATION DEVICE Filed Aug. 1, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l aram \HUIMMMMMHBMMI HMMMIMIMIHIIRMMM EM #4/2040- 5P/7ZER.

ATTORNEYS July 23, 1940. H. SPITZER MENSURATION DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug'. 1, 1938 'IIIIIIII 111/.

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INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented July 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" MENSURATION DEVICE Harold Spitzer, Brooklyn, NQY Application August 1, 1938, Serial No. 222,544 4 Claims. (01. 33-1415) 1 This invention relates to devices for measuring distances along surfaces and more especially to a device for ascertaining and registering absolute horizontal distances by rolling said device over 5; 9 terrain.

In surveying, it is customary to determine absolutely horizontal distances by actual measurement of portions of the terrain and calculation according to well known trigonometric formulae.

10" This procedure is disadvantageous in many in,-

stances, inasmuch as it necessitates measurement of angles by means of transits or the like, together with computation based upon observed distances and observed changes in slope, whereby 1 5 experimental errors are often of such importance as to vitiate results unless extreme care is taken in making observations and measuring distances. A further disadvantage of this method of ascertaining absolute horizontal distances is that if 26 it is desired to obtain a terrain profile, it is necessary to plot observed values upon suitable coordinate paper with resultant loss of time and in some instances, duplication of work.

Moreover, mensuration of terrain by surveyors level, rod and tape, introduces experimental errors which often vitiate results, in addition to being troublesome and time consuming.

It is among the more important objects of the present invention to provide a device adapted 3' to being rolled upon terrain which will register the vertical and horizontal projection of the distance traversed and will also provide a terrain profile record of the surface over which the device has been rolled.

35'- Another object of the present invention is to provide a device adapted to being rolled over other than horizontal terrain, including means actuable by variation in slope of the terrain, for recording said variation in slope and presenting a graphic record of the vertical projection of the terrain profile plotted against a horizontal projection thereof or the absolute distance traversed.

Notable among the more important features of the present invention is its adaptability to determine variation profileswith substantial accuracy particularly where the terrain is unusually irregular, inasmuch as the device includes means for automatically compensating in the recording mechanism for any and all variations 0 in slope of the surface over which the device is moved.

Another feature of the device is its relative simplicity: that is to say, it comprises relatively few parts, all of which are of simple construction 55 whereby economies during manufacture are proof adjustment during ordinary use.

moted. It is also notable that the elements of the device can be assembled easily without" necessitating employment of skilled labor, resulting in a further diminution of the cost of manufacture. I

Another feature of the device according to 5 the present invention is that,.as compared to other mensuration devices or surveying instruments, it is of relatively rugged construction and accordingly does not become misaligned or, out

ness of construction is also of importancein increasing its useful life, particularly when it is to be used inmensuration of relatively rugged terrain;

Another feature of the device according to'the i5 present invention is that it includes means for providing a profile record of the terrain over which the device is movedysaid means being adaptable if desired, to exaggerating one of the coordinates of the graphic record. 20,

device according to the present invention will 30 be apparent to those skilled inthe art'during the course of'the following description. 4

Regarded in certain of its-broader aspects, the present invention comprises a device for measuring absolute horizontal distances, recording same, and recording and measuring variations in vertical projection of a traversed terrain, s'aid device including a driven shaft rotated by movement of the; device over the terrain being obv served, the rate of rotation'of said shaft being 40 observed, the rate of rotation of said shaft being proportional to the rate of travel of the device along the surface of theterrain; a second shaft rotatable by means including said driven shaft,

means associating said driven and. said second shaft and controlled by variation in slope .of the traversed terrain, whereby the rate of rotation of said second shaft is proportional to the absolute distance traversed, recording mechanism associ-' ated with said second shaft for providing a visible record of the rotationthereof; a-third shaft associated with and driven byisaid second shaft, means for controlling and varying the rate of rotation of said third shaft in a manner having relationship to the angle of slopein traversed terrain whereby the rate of rotation of said third shaft is proportional to the vertical projection of said traversed terrain, and means actuable by said third shaft for recording the rate of change of rotation thereof upon the record of the rotation of said second shaft, whereby the vertical projection of said traversed terrain is graphically recorded and compared with the absolute horizontal distance traversed by the device. By absolute horizontal-distance, as the term is used in this specification and in the claims appended thereto, is meant, the absolute horizontal distance or horizontal projection of the surface traversed by the device.

In order to facilitate a fuller and more com-- plete understanding of the present. invention, a specific embodiment thereof will be hereinafter described, it being clearly understood, however, that the illustrated embodiment is given solely by way of example and is non-limitative upon the scope of the present invention, except as expressed in the subjoined claims.

Referring then to the drawings:

Figure. 1 is'substantially a side elevational view of? a now preferred embodiment of the present invention with. parts broken away for. clearness and. the cover of the casing removed to expose internal parts.

Figure 2 is substantially a vertical section-a1 view of Figure 1, taken'alongthe line.22.

Figure 3 is substantially a horizontal sectional View of Figure 2, taken along'the line 3-3.

Figured is essentially'a fragmentary horizontalsectional view of Figure 1, taken along the line 4'-4,' and Figure 5 is substantially a side elevational view,

with parts broken away for clearness, of the presently preferred stylus mounting.

Referring now to the drawings and especially to Figures 1 and Zthereof; it will be noted that the device, generally designated bythenumeral H1, comprises a box-like frame ll, substantially rectangular in verticalv cross sectional outline and having a bottom Ha and top portion Hb with sides lie and Ild'; One end. of" the. casing, He, is preferably formed integral with the top and sides; the other end of the casing-'ispreferably closed by means of a cover not shown. A. plurality of yokes, some offwhicharedesignated by the numeral l2, are mounted, nearthe corners of the bottom lid of the casing" H and carryfreely rotatable wheels l3 mounted on axles journalled in the arms of saidi'yokeswhereby rolling of said casing over terrain is facilitated;

A shaft l4, rotatably mounted in a bearing l5 attached to the casing end portion He, is provided, on an end" portion thereof projecting" outside the casing, with a pulley IB substantiallyfixedly mounted on said shaft and connected by means of a belt with apull'ey l8, rotatable by one of the wheels I3, whereby said shaft It is rotated by rolling the casing on the wheels l3. The opposite end of the shaft M carries a collar I9 fixedly secured thereto and having mounted thereon an essentially fiat disc 20 circular in outline, rotatable by said shaft. For convenience of description, the disc 20 will be hereinafter referred to as the driving disc. A second shaft 22, mounted in an opening formed in the casing end He and freely rotatably supported by the bracket bearing 23, carries a collar 24 on the end thereof, distal relative to the casing end, said'collar' having fixedly attached thereto a second disc 25, positioned adjacent the driving disc 20 but slightly behind same, wherebyfree rotation of said disc 25 does not interfere with rotation of the driving disc.

Rotation of the driving disc 20 produces rotation of the disc 25 by engagement of discs 30 and 3i with the discs 20 and 25 respectively. The discs 30 and 3| are mounted, by means of collars 32 and 33 respectively, on end portions of a hollow substantially cylindrical tubular member 34, said tubular member 34 being freely rotatably mounted on a'shaft 35, held in bearings 36 and 3'1, the bearing 36 being fixedly mounted on the side lid of the casing and the bearing 3'! being mounted on the casing side I I0. It is to be noted that the peripheral parts of the disc 30 engage with the fiat surface of the disc 26 and similarly peripheral parts of the disc 3i engage with the flat surface of the disc 25, accordingly, inasmuch as the discs 38 and 31' are mounted upon a common member viz., the tubular member 34, rotation of the disc 20 will result in rotation of the disc 25. Although the tubular member 34 is freely rotatably mounted on the shaft 35 as hereinbefore mentioned, its axial movement along saidshaft is restricted by means of the collars 38v and 39 substantially fixedly mounted on said shaft and abutting against the discs 30 and 3! respectively. Inasmuch as the shaft 35 is permitted limited axial movement of the bearings 36 and 3, it will be apparent that said axial movement of said shaft will move the discs 30 and 3! relative to the axis of rotation of' the discs 20 and 25 whereby the rate of rotation of the disc 25 relative to the rate of rotation of the disc 20 will be altered.

Control of axial motion of the shaft 35 is effected by means of a segmental cam 46 formed in the cam plate 4i and engaging with a canr rider 42 mounted on the shaft 35, said cam carryingplate M being provided with a formation Ma;

pivotally mounted on the shaft" 43, said shaft" being journalled in bearing members 44 and 31, substantially as shown in Figure 4, the bearing 44 being attached to the casing end He and the bearing member 31 being mounted on the casing side i la as hereinbefore' described). The cam plate 4! is counter-balanced by means of an adjustable counter-weight 45 mounted on a threaded supporting member 45 attached to theformation Ma of the cam plate 4| near the pivotal mounting thereof. A pendulum bar 41 is also substantially fixedly attached to the formation- Ma of the cam plate 4! near the pivotal mounting thereof carries, on its free end, a weight 48 arranged whereby variations in: slope of terrain traversed by the device will result in rotation of said cam' plate 4! upon the shaft 43. It will be evident then, that axial movement of the shaft 35 is produced by variation in slope of the traversed terrain whereby the ratio of rates of rotation of the discs 28 and 25 is altered in a degree proportional to the change of slope.

It will be apparent that if n is the radius of the disc 28, that is to say, the effective radius, namely, the distance between the axis of rotation of said disc and the place of abutment of the disc 30 thereagainst, the distance traveled by the point on the periphery of the circle defined. by said radius would be 21mm wherein m is the number of rotations of said disc per unit time. Similarly, the distance traveled by a point on the periphery of the disc 38 would be 21mm wherein m and m are respectively the radius and number of rotations in unit time of'said disc. In like manner, the distance traveled by a point on the periphery on the disc 3! would be 21mm wherein m and na are respectively the radius and rate of rotation of the disc. Butit will be noted that inasmuch as discs 3|] and 3| are mounted upon the member 34, n2 is equal to m accordingly, a point on the.

disc 3| would travel a distance 2113112. In analogous manner, a point on a circle having a radius equal to the distance between the axis of rotation of the disc 25 and the place of abutment of the 1 disc 3| thereagainst would be 21rT47'L4 wherein T4 and m are the effective radius and rate of rotation of said disc 25. Manifestly, n2 is equal to the fraction 21mm over 271-7'2 and inasmuch as m is equal to the fraction 21mm over 21m, n4 is equal to the fraction 111'3111 over rm. If X represents the distance of axial movement of the shaft 35, it will beevident that m is equal to the fraction:

, is maintained:

( '1 '3 (Km S wherein is the angle of slope.

The ratio 2'. T4 is made equal to so that in its initial position on level ground, when the displacement X is zero, the fraction become unity. Under these conditions, m is equal to m cos and the rate of rotation of the disc is directly proportional to the absolute horizonnow be described. A vertically positioned, freely rotatable shaft 56 is axially slidably mounted within the casing II in bearings 5| and 52, it being noted that the upright bearing member 5| is substantially fixedly mounted on the bottom ||a of said casing. The bearing 52 is essentially a slotted sheath andis rotatable with and by the shaft through engagement of a projecting key-like member 53 with a slot 54 formed in the side of said sheath 52, the upper part of the sheath being rotatably mounted in a, supported bearing 55 essentially fixedly secured to the back He of the casing. A wheel-like roller 56, essentially fixedly mounted on the shaft 50, engages with a bifurcated yoke 51 whereby axial movement of said shaft 50, by means of said yoke, can be produced as will be hereinafter described.

A frame 60, mounted on the cam plate 4| and comprising segmental curved elements 6| and 62, joined by cross pieces 63 and 64 at the ends thereof, carries a radially grooved projecting member 65 having a block 66 slidably mounted in said groove, said block 66 being pivotally attached to the yoke 51 hereinbefore referred to. Inasmuch as the member 65 is mounted upon and moves in conjunction with the cam plate iL it will be evident that the shaft'56-will be axially moved in its bearings by movement of said cam plate 4| on its pivotal mounting by engagement of the yoke 51 with said .roller 56 as hereinbefore described.

The wheel-like roller 56 abuts against and frictionally engages with the flat surface of the disc 25 .hereinbefore described, accordingly, as said roller is radially moved across said disc by movement of said cam plate 4|, the shaft 50 will be rotated, the direction of rotation being dependent upon whether the roller is positioned upon one side of the axis of rotation of the disc 25 or upon the other side thereof.

It will be evident that the rate of rotation of the shaft 50 will be proportional to the rate of rotation of the disc 25 and also proportional 'to the distance from the axis of rotation of the disc 25 to the place of, abutment of the wheel 56 thereagainst. In the presently preferred embodiment of the instant invention, the relationship existing between the rate of rotation of thedisc 25 and the rate of rotation of the shaft 56 is expressed by the formula:

wherein o is the angle of slope and y is the distance from the axis of movement ofthe cam plate 4| to the pivot point of the yoke 51. This expression is derived as follows: if T5 is the effective radius of the disc 25 as regards the roller 56, and T6 is the radius of said roller, the rates of rotation of the disc and shaft being designated respectively by us and n6, it will be evident that the distance traveled by a point on the circumference of a circle having radius as would be 21r157L5. Inasmuch as, T5 is determined by movementof the pendulum actuated cam plate 4|, it will be evident that 1'5 is equal to the product of tan and the distance between the pivotal point of the cam plate 4| and the pivotal point of the yoke 51. Accordingly, it will be evident that the rate of rotation of the shaft 56, n6 will be equal to the fraction 211-11 n5 tan over 21m; wherein y is the distance between the pivotal points of the yoke and of cam plate hereinbefore referred to. It will be apparent then that the rate of rotation of the shaft 56 will be substantially directly proportional to the vertical projection of the traversed terrain.

It will be seen that, in the manner hereinbefore described, the device according to the instant invention includes a plurality of shafts, one of said shafts rotating at a rate proportional to the absolute distance traversed, that is to say, the

horizontal projection of the surface traversed, and another shaft rotating at a rate proportional to the vertical projection of the traversed terrain. The manner in which the recording ofthese rates of rotation is accomplished will now be described. The recording apparatus, generally designated by the numeral Hl and located near the upper portion of the casing H, com.- prises a pair of mounting standards '12 and I3, substantially fixedly secured to the casing top Ill) and extending downwardly therefrom, said standards having openings formed therein adapted to receive and rotatably hold a threaded rod 14 and also a guide rod 15 substantially as shown in Figures 1 and 2. An end portion of the threaded rod 14 is provided with a pinion gear 16 engageable with a worm gear ll mounted on a shaft 18 journalled in bearings 79 and 8!], said shaft 18 being connected to and rotatably by the collar 8| mounted on an end portion of the bearing, 52 of the shaft 50,-whereby. rotation .of the shaft 50 results in rotation: of thethreaded rod I4, the direction. of rotationof said threaded rod I4 being determined of course, by the algebraic sign of the angle of slope. A rider 85, engaging with the threaded portions of the rod I5 and guided by the-rodIB, is moved along said rod M by rotation, thereof. Referring now especially to Figure 5 wherein, detailsof the rider are best illustrated, it will be noted that it comprises block-like body portion. BBhaving an opening 81 formed therein, adapted to receive the guide rod I5 and an opening 88 formed therein adapted to receive a threaded rod I4. A spring pressed block 89. having thread formations on a face thereof is normally positioned with the threads projecting into the interior of the opening 80, but is retractable by means of the knob 90 whereby said threaded portion can be disengaged from the rod I4 when the device is inuse, thereby permitting free sliding motion of said rider along said rod for purposesof setting or adjustment of the stylus 92 mounted on, said rider. An essentially planar member 95, fixedly mounted in standards 95 and 9! attached to the rear wall I he of the casing l I, is arranged whereby paper positioned on said surface engages with said stylus $2 and receives markings therefrom. A roll of sheet material such as paper or the like, preferably stored in a can 98, extends therefrom and held fiat by arms 99 and I00, passes over said planar surface beneath said stylus 92 and over a roller I02 mounted at the top of said surface substantially as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and an end portion thereof, designated by the numeral 03, is positioned between and drawn by rollers I 04 and I05, being thereafter received in a suitable receptacle, not shown. The rollers I04 and H35 are mounted in standards I05 and I01, essentially fixedly attached to the back lie of the casing, the roller I05 being mounted upon and rotatable by a shaft IIO having a pinion gear III mounted on a projecting end portion thereof engageable with a worm gear I I3 mounted upon and rotatable by the shaft 22, whereby as the disc 25 is rotated, the paper I03 is drawn past the stylus 92 and between the rollers I04 and I05.

It will be apparent then that the paper I03 is drawn between the rollers I04 and I05 at a linear rate of travel directly proportional to the absolute horizontal distance traversed by the device inasmuch as the rollers IM and I05 are rotated by means driven by rotation of the disc 25. It will also be evident, in the light of the foregoing description, that the threaded rod I4 will be rotated in different directions depending upon the algebraic sign of the slope of the traversed terrain and that the rate of rotation of said threaded rod It will be essentially directly proportional to and determined by the vertical variation of said terrain. Accordingly, the stylus 92 will indicate upon the paper 1013 passed thereunder, both the change in position of the rider 85 as it moves along the threaded rod M and also will indicate the length of paper passed under said stylus and drawn by said rollers I04 and I05. In thismanner, a graphic record is obtained of the horizon-- tal and of'the vertical projection of the traversed terrain, that is to say, a profile record of the surface traversed.

It will of course be understood by those skilled in the art that the graphic record of the traversed terrain profile can be distorted, if desired, by exaggerating the horizontal or the vertical projection thereof, this being easily accomplished by variations in pitch or ratio of the gears I4 and I? or of the gears III and H3. For instance, if it is desired to exaggerate the vertical projection of the terrain profile, the ratio of the gears I6 and II is adjusted, wherebythe rider 85 traverses a relatively large proportion of the length of the threaded rod. I4 as a result of the relatively small changes in slope of the traversed terrain. Conversely, by altering the ratio of said gears in the opposite direction, the horizontal projection of the terrain profile can be exaggerated.

To register the vertical projection of the distance traversed, the rotation of the threaded rod will be indicated by a mechanical counter not shown on the drawings. v

It is to be understood that this improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawings nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a portable terrain profile recording device mounted on wheels a first shaft coupled to and rotated by travel of thedevice overthe terrain, a recording mechanism and a second shaft driving the recording mechanism, the improved means for coupling the first with the second shaft comprising a first disc mounted on said first. shaft and a. second disc mounted on said second shaft; a first and second coactivefriction wheel, the first friction wheel riding on the first disc and the second friction wheel riding on the second disc.

2. In a portable terrain profile recording device mounted on wheels a first shaft coupled to and rotated by travel of the device over the terrain,- a recording mechanism and a second shaft driving the recording mechanism, the improved means for coupling the first with the second shaft comprising a first disc mounted on said first shaft and a second disc mounted on said second shaft, the discs lying in essentially parallel spaced planes; a first and a second friction wheel mounted on a common shaft, the first friction wheel being of different diameter from the second friction wheel, the first friction wheel riding ,on and taking power from the first disc and the second. friction wheel riding on and driving the second disc.

3. In a portable terrain profile recording device mounted on wheels 2, first shaft coupled to and rotated by travel of the-device over theterrain, a recording mechanism and a second shaft drivingthe recording mechanism, the improved means for coupling the first with the second shaft comprising a first disc mounted on. said first shaft and a second disc mounted on said second shaft, the discs, lying in essentially parallel spaced planes; a first and a, second friction wheel mounted on acommon shaft, the first friction Wheel being of different diameter from the second friction wheel, the first friction. wheel riding on and taking power from the first disc and the second friction wheel riding on and driving the. second disc; and means, for moving said. first. and second friction wheels radially on said first and second discs respectively whereby the ratio of rotation of the first and second shafts, is altered.

i. In a portable terrain profile recording device mounted on wheels a first shaft coupled to and rotated by travel of the device over the terrain, a recording mechanism and a second shaft driving the recordingmechanism, the. improved means for coupling the first with the second shaft comprising a first disc mounted on said first shaft and a second disc mounted on said second shaft, the discs lying in essentially parallel spaced planes; a first and a second friction wheel mounted on a common shaft, the first friction wheel being of different diameter from the second friction wheel, the first friction wheel riding on and taking power from the first disc and the second friction wheel riding on and driving the second disc;- and means for moving said first and second friction Wheels radially on said first and second discs respectively whereby the ratio of rotation of the first and second shafts is altered, said means comprising a pendulum controlled rotating cam acting upon parts of said first and second friction wheels.

HAROLD SPITZER. 

